Redbox Instant signs with Epix

New streaming service takes off the wraps

Streaming venture Redbox Instant by Verizon will cost $8 a month, include titles from Epix, and offer four one-night credits for new movies rented through Redbox kiosks, the service said as it unveiled some eagerly awaited details on Wednesday.

For $1 more, $9 per month, customers can redeem their four credits for Blu-ray disc rentals at kiosks.

They can also use the service without a subscription for purchase or rental or to reserve DVDs for pickup at local kiosks.

The Epix deal will offer subscribers pics like “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” and “The Hunger Games” 90 days after they premiere in the traditional premium window. Epix is a pay TV venture of Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM.

“Redbox Instant by Verizon will be an exciting new service for consumers in the digital entertainment marketplace and we are thrilled to be their partner, providing our movies from some of the world’s leading studios,” said Epix CEO Mark Greenberg. “We have a long and successful relationship with Verizon FiOS, which was our first distribution partner at the launch of Epix,” he said.

“We are building a compelling entertainment choice through our ability to support both physical and digital distribution of movies that people love, made possible by the depth of relationships we’ve established with top Hollywood studios and distribution partners,” said Shawn Strickland, CEO, Redbox Instant by Verizon.

At launch the service will be offered via the web and through home entertainment, tablet and mobile devices, including iOS, Android, Samsung Blu-ray Players and TVs with SmartHub, LG Smart TV and Blu-ray players, and Google TV. More devices will be announced in the coming months.